Sedgwick County, KS – Deputy Robert Kunze III with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office was murdered in the line of duty on Sunday afternoon.

According to the sheriff's office, the incident started with a call of suspicious person in the area of 53rd Street North and 295th Street West at around 1:18 p.m.

Deputy Kunze located somebody matching the suspect description at 295th Street West on 21st Street North at around 1:42 p.m.

Six minutes after making contact, Deputy Kunze activated his emergency help button on his radio.

A second deputy arrived to find Deputy Kunze and the suspect down from gunshot wounds.

The suspect was pronounced dead on scene.

Deputy Kunze was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at around 2:55 p.m.

It has not been disclosed if the suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if Deputy Kunze shot him.

No information about the identify of the suspect has been disclosed as of this writing.

The agency added that Deputy Kunze was 41 years old and a 12 year veteran of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.

Prior to his employment with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Kunze was a 6 year veteran of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office.

He leaves behind a wife and daughter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Sedgwick County Deputy Kunze, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Deputy Robert Kunze III, your life mattered.